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TR: Cirque Peak 6/6/15

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:21 pm
by ExploreABitMore
I wanted to sneak out for a hike this last Saturday and thought maybe I would hike Muah Peak, but as I drove up Lubken Canyon road it looked like a maelstrom parked itself right above the mountains where I wanted to hike. I dropped the idea of doing too much, with just a hope that maybe I could hike up to Cottonwood Lakes and get some moody photos, hopefully without getting stormed on too much. But, as I drove in to the trailhead and started hiking all the clouds moved out of my way. When I got near Cottonwood Lakes I noticed it was clear above Cirque Peak. Couldn't help but be drawn in that direction and next thing I knew I was on top with beautiful views. There was some weather to the South, West and North, but just beautiful near me with all sorts of dramatic clouds floating around.

As I neared getting back to my car all the clouds started rolling in again and I got poured on for a while driving through Lone Pine and to the south. Owens Valley was looking pretty dramatic up and down it's length. Some crazy weather we've been having.

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Ominous clouds above the Sierra as I drive to Horseshoe Meadows


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Big beautiful clouds floating around


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Slogging my way up into the clouds


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Beautiful clouds over Langley


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Beautiful clouds over Langley


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Beautiful views to the NW


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High Lake near New Army Pass, some skeeters here


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Long Lake


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Nice views driving back down Horseshoe Meadows Road

Re: Cirque Peak 6/6/15

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 4:36 pm
by Jimr
Looks like an awesome day Mike. Makes me wish I lived a bit closer than 4 hours away from LP. I'd love to be able to do shoulder season day hikes.

Re: Cirque Peak 6/6/15

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:47 am
by Hobbes
ExploreABitMore wrote:Some crazy weather we've been having.
Howard Sheckter @ Mammoth Weather believes we're seeing the incipient stages of an El Nino. Not only are we having late season N Pacific storms, but there's already been 3 named E Pacific tropical storms. So after the winter weather finally abates, it could be a summer of monsoonal downpours.

Re: Cirque Peak 6/6/15

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:18 am
by Bluewater
Thanks for your photos and tr! I'm doing the 4 hour drive to Lone Pine tonight and heading to Cottonwood Lakes tomorrow. It's good to see what I can expect.


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Re: Cirque Peak 6/6/15

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 8:48 pm
by ExploreABitMore
Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed the TR and photos. Hope you had a good time Bluewater. Hobbes, I was wondering about that. Looks like we got some stable dry weather finally, but I couldn't help wonder what this supposed El Nino might mean for summer. Guess we'll find out soon enough!